Carton



H. F. BESS May 9, 1961 CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1959 INVENTOR. #HWY/.F55 s s BY 57M ,4 rroe/VEV May 9, 1961 H. F. BEss 2,983,428

CARTON Filed March 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A r OEA/Ey nited States Patent CARTON Henry F. Bess, Rochester, N. assignor to Weyerhaenser l Company, Tacoma, Wash., a corporation 'of Washngton Filed Mar. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 797,637

2 Claims. (Cl. 2295-34) This invention relates to improvements in a box and, in particular, to improvements in a box formed from a single =blank cut or otherwise formed from a suitable material, such as card or paper "board, which is to be folded and glued so as to provide a durable box with an integral cover. The invention also Yhas particular reference to the provision of a box for the shipment and storage of cigars and similarly-shaped commodities.

Cigars and which must be shipped great distances from the point of manufacture and stored prior to and during the dispensing thereof present particular packaging problems. Boxes for containing such commodities must provide protection from crushing impact to the ends of the tubularshaped contents, such as cigars, must be capable of stacking without crushing, must be capable of tight closure, and must be capable of withstanding the rigors of a good deal of handling, not only during shipping, but also under display conditions during the period that the contents are being dispensed, sometimes one cigar at a time. Since the average cigar box contains 50 cigars, the customary dispensing procedure may require considerable handling.

' Cigar boxes have heretofore been constructed for the most part from rigid materials such as wood. Since it is uneconomical to prefabricate the box made 'of ksuch conventional materials and ship it from a box-making center to the cigar manufacturer, and since the made-up boxes require a good deal of storage space, it is necessary that each cigar manufacturer have a box-making operation on or close to his manufacturing site. Such a custom box-making operation is obviously uneconomical. Furthermore, the type of wood most suitable for cigar box making, Spanish cedar, sometimes called cigar box cedar, is a relatively expensive material for packaging stock.

vIt is therefore the `object of this invention to provide the cigar industry, and others requiring `similar types of boxes, with an inexpensive box which can be shipped and stored in a knocked-down flattened form and can be set up readily in box form just prior to packing, which box, in its set-up form, will be sufficiently sturdy for stacking and for withstanding the rigors of shipment and retail or users storage and display, and otherwise willl satisfy the requirements of the use to which the box is to be put.

It is a further object of this invention to eliminate en- A tirely the use of wood or wood products in the fabrication of cigar boxes and the necessity for providing nailing-surface for the erection of the box and/ or the closing of the cover.

yIt is a Ifurther object of this invention to provide a box having an integrated hinged coverwhich can be assembled from a single unitary blank providing integrated protective features for the contents and integrated hold-down means and support `for the cover.

With these and'other related objects in mind, it has now been found that a box blank suitable for the purposevcan be prepared from a pliable material such as other Asimilarly-shaped fragile commodities patented May 9, 1961 "ice 2 paperboard stock or about LO-point thickness. Ihicker or thinner `paperboard or cardboard stock may ibe employed,. but' 20-point thickness is preferred for ease of handling while still preserving the' necessary structural properties. By uniquely cutting and scoring the paperboard stock, for instance in a die cutting and creasing machiney provided with suitablev dies operable sirnultaneously to cut the blank from the sheet stock land form the various creases and'per-forations delineatingfolding lines, a blank is formed which can be folded and |glued in such a way as to provide a flattened form of the box having ,double thicknesses of the paperboard stock in all component parts. When erected in -box form there will be provided double glued-together, or laminated, thicknesses for che bottom and cover parts, hollow or tubulartype construction yback and front side walls consisting of inner and outer parallel members of single thickness spaced apart a suicient distance (1A to 3/s") to provide impact protection for the ends of the cigars, andquadruple thickness lglued-together, or laminated, end walls formed by joining the double thickness component panels hingedly attached respectively to the end edges of the lbottom and outer panels of the Iliront and back side walls. End support for the `cover is provided for by the top ridges of the double thickness component panels hingedly attached to the outer panels of the side walls. The outer sides of said component panels, when erected, lie adjacent the inner sides of the component panels hingedly attached to the end edges of the bottom, and are of slightly less height than said bottom end panels, thus providing -a supporting ridge for the ends of the cover, while the additional height of the outside or bottom. end panel completes the end closure of the lid without resort to end hold-down means.

Although thepreferred embodiment of this invention is for the conventional or standard Sizes for cigar boxes adapted to hold 25 or 50 cigars, it should be understood that the invention is applicable to the formation of similar type boxes of various -sizes having different desired lengths, widths and heights.

With particular reference, therefore, to the conventional size and form of cigar boxes, the invention will be more particularly described hereinafter with reference to the annexed drawings in which:l

Figure l is an extended plan View of the blank made of paperboard or the like required to form a carton-in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the blank in the attened form in which it is shipped after the first gluing.

v Figure 3 is a transverse cross section of the flattened blank as shown in Figure 2, taken on the line 3 3.

Figure 4 is an transverse cross section of the blank as it is folded to shape, illustrating the hollow front and bac'k sides and integral cover, taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the carton with the front and back sides and inner end aps folded into position. Y

. Figure 6 is a perspective View of the carton in iinished form showing the outer end flaps folded into position and glued to the inner end llaps.

Figure 7 is a perspective sectional view illustrating the end wall ledge on which the cover rests when in the closed position.

Throughout the several views of the drawings the same or similar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the carton consists of a blank, as shown in Fig. 1, which is delivered to the user in the form-shown in Fig. 2, to be set up bysaid user as shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1, the blank comprises aA bottom 3 supporting panel 20 bounded by score or fold lines 21, 22, 23 and 24. The score or fold lines 22 and 24 may be considered as the back and front of said panel. The score or fold lines 21 and 23 may be considered as the ends of the panel. The 'blank has integrally hingedly connected to` the bottom supporting panel 20, through the score or fold lines 21 and 23, outer end flaps 25 and 26. Outer end flap 25 is bounded by the cut lines 29, 31, and 33 and fold line 21. A score or fold line 27 is placed parallel to fold line 21 at a point slightly over half the distance between fold line 21 and cut line 311. This allows the outer section of the end flap 25 to be folded back inwardly and glued to its inner section so as to provide double thickness of said end flap. End ap 26 is of similar construction to end ap 25. It is bounded by cut lines 30, 32, and 34 yand fold line 23. In a similar manner it is folded back on fold line 28 and glued to provide double thickness.

The front sidepanel 35 is integrally attached to the bottom supporting panel 20 by fold line 24. It is further bounded by fold lines 36, 37 and 38. The inner end aps 39 and 40 are integrally attached to the front side panel 35 at the fold lines 37 and 38. Inner end ap 39 is further bounded by cut lines 41, 43, 45 and 49. A fold line 47 is provided at the midpoint of cut line 43 and is parallel to cut lines 41 and 45. The outer section of the flap 39 is doubled back inwardly on fold line 47 and glued to its inner section so as to provide double thickness and greater strength of the said flap. The inner end flap 40 is of similar construction, being bounded by cut lines 42, 44, 46 and 50. In a similar manner it is doubled back on fold line 48 and glued.

Attached to the front side panel 35 on fold line 36 is the top spacer panel 51 which forms the top of the front side wall of the carton. Said front side wall is of the hollow wall type. Top spacer panel 51 is further bounded by cut lines 93 and 94 and fold line 52. Cut lines 93 and 94 may be oifset outwardly from cut lines 55 and 56 just enough to allow the resulting projection from either end of top connecting panel 51 to cover the double thickness of end panels 39 and 40. At the center of the panel on fold line 52 is a U-shapedL cut line 59 to provide an inwardly pointing lip 88. Panel 53, which is the inner side of the front side Wall, is attached to fold line 52 and further bounded by cut lines 55 and 56 and perforated line 54. Panel 57, being attached to panel 53 by the perforated line 54 and further bounded by cut lines 55, 56 and 58, is glued to the bottom supporting panel 2t) in such a way that the perforated line 54 delineating the bottom of panel 53 is spaced from the outer side wall panel 35 a distance equal to the width of top spacer panel 51. If desired panel 57 may be extended to cover the entire bottom supporting panel 20, in which case the free end of panel 57 would be disposed beneath glue strip 84, rather than over it as illustrated in the drawings.

Attached to the `bottom supporting panel 20 on fold line 22 is the outer back side panel 60. It is` bounded by fold lines 22, 62, 61 and 63. Integrally attached on fold lines 61 and 63 are inner end flaps 70 and 71. They are similar to the inner end flaps 39 and 40 attached to the front side panel 35. The inner end flap 70 is further bounded by cut lines 64, 66, 68 and 72. It is doubled back on fold line 86 so as to provide double thickness. Inner end flap 71 is further bounded by cut lines 66, 67, 69 and 73. It is doubled back on fold line 87. Cut lines 49, d, 7,2 and 73 are biased outwardly away from cut lines 94, 93, 74 and 75, respectively.

integrally attached to the outer back side panel 6! on fold line 62 is the topl cover panel 76. It is further bounded by cut lines 74 and 75 and fold line 77. Panel 78, which is hingedly connected to panel 76 at fold line 77, is of -like size and folds back to form the under side of the cover.

The top ofthe back side wall is formed by top spacer panel 80 which is attached to the under side of the top cover by perforated line 79. The inner panel 82 of the back side wall is connected to the top spacer panel 80 on fold line 81 and further bounded lby cut lines 91 and 92 and perforated line 83. Panel 84, being bounded by cut lines 91, 92 and 85,Y and perforated line 83, is a fastoning ap to be glued to the supporting panel 20. The inner edge of the fastening Hap S4, delineated by perforated line 83, is aligned on bottom panel 20 a distance inwardly from the fold line 22 which is equal to the width of the top spacer panel 80. Cut lines 91 and 92 are olfset inwardly from cut lines 75 and 74, forming projections on either end of top spacer panel 80 which just cover the double thickness of end panels 70 and 71.

After the blank has been cut and scored as above described, adhesive is applied to the upper surface of the outer halves of the outer end liaps 25 and 26. Adhesive is also applied to the upper surface of the outer halves of the inner end flaps 39, 40, 70 and 71. Adhesive is also applied to the upper surface of the fastening flap panel 84, the upper surface ofthe cover panel 78, and to the upper surface of the bottom supporting panel 20` in glue strips 89 and 90. At this time the outer halves of the end aps are folded inwardly on the score or fold lines 27, 28, 47, 48, 86 and 87. 'Ihe adhesive on the outer halves is brought into contact with the upper surface of the inner halves, thus providing end aps of double thickness. The cover is folded on the score or fold line 77 and the two cover panels 76 and 78 are adhesively joined. The upper surface of the fastening flap 84 on which adhesive `was applied is pressed firmly to the upper surface of the bottom supporting panel 20. The front side section is folded back on score line 36 and the upper surface of panel 57 is pressed firmly to the upper surface of the bottom supporting panel 20 on which there are adhesive strips 89 and 90. In performing this operation perforated line 54 is aligned on bottom panel 20, a distance from `fold line 24 equal to the width of top panel 35. Pressure is applied to the folded blank effecting the definite adhesion of the parts to one another. The folded blank is now in its iiattened form, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and is shipped to the user in this condition.

To assemble the carton for use, the user merely folds the front and back wall sections into a position perpendicular to the bottom supporting panel 20v (see Fig. 4). The hollow Wall construction automatically takes shape because of the prior scoring. The inner end aps 39,- 40, 70 and 71 are folded inwardly and perpendicularly to the plane of the front and back walls (see Fig. 5). Adhesive is applied to the upper surface of the outer end flaps 25 and 26, which are then raised to a position parallel and contacting the inner end flaps 39, 71, 40 and 70. Pressure is applied to the end flaps so as to effect the definite adhesion. The carton is then ready for use, as shown in Fig. 6.

The cover may then be folded to a closed position and the carton sealed. It should Ibe noted that the construction of the inner end flaps 39, 40, 70 and 71 provides a slight ledge on which the cover rests when the carton is closed. This prevents the cover from going below the ledge, and there is no gap between the cover and the end wall, The ledge is formed by the inner end flaps 39, 40, 70 and 71, which are the thickness of the cover, less in height when in the erected position than the outer end flaps 25 and 26, the said difference in height being equal to the thickness of the cover. This feature is illustrated in Fig. 7. The cover is held down in closed position by lip 88 formed by the cut line 59 and projects inwardly from edge 52 of the front top spacer panel 51 to receive the top of the cover 78.

By this construction `greater strength is achieved. 'I'he end walls consist of four thicknesses of the blank, all glued together. The ledge formed by the end walls gives support to the cover when in the closed position. The cover is lmade up of two thicknesses of the blank and glued together. The front and back walls are of the hollow wall type of construction, thus providing greatly increased strength to those wall sections. The double wall construction back and front also serves to protect the ends of cigars or like objects, the packaging of which is contemplated by this carton. The bottom also consists of two thicknesses of the blank glued together. The fact that all panels are integrally connected to other panels of the single blank provides strength in the joints.

It is frequently desirable to print carton contents description, ornamentation, and decorative matter on the cartons. This may be done by printing on the blanks either before or after they are cut and scored. The exterior and interior of the carton is formed by one side of the blank so that printing would be necessary on one side only.

The construction and arrangement may be varied within the scope of equivalent limits without departure from the nature and principle thereof. y

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. In a carton formed from a single blank, a bottom panel, two opposed side walls of hollow wall construction the outer walls of which are hingedly connected to the opposed side extremities of the bottom panel, the outer side wall of one Said hollow side wall having an extension panel hingedly connected thereto through a common fold line, said extension panel being folded inwardly and back on itself to form a double thickness cover the two thicknesses of which are adhesively adhered together, the free end of the inner thickness having a further extension folded inwardly on a fold line adjacent the top of the said outer side wall to form a top wall of said one hollow side wall, the said free end of said further extension having an additional extension folded downwardly a distance equal to the height of the said outer side wall to form an inner side wall spaced from the said outer side wall a distance equal to the Width of the said top wall, and from there folded inwardly to form a fastening strip which is adhesively fixed to the inner surface of the bottom panel in such a manner that the said inner wall is spaced at its lower extremity from the said outer wall a distance equal to the width of the said top wall, an extension on the outer wall of the opposed hollow side wall which is folded inwardly, extended for a short distance, and folded downwardly to form a top wall of said opposed hollow side wall, further extended and folded downwardly a distance 6 equal to the height of the said opposed outer wall, further folded and extended inwardly to form an inner bottom panel which is adhesively fixed to the inner surface of the rst bottom panel in such a manner as to space the inner wall of the said opposed hollow side wall from its outer wall a distance equal to the width of its -top wall and to completely cover that portion of the said lirst bottom panel which lies between the inner walls of said opposed hollow side walls, thus forming a double thickness bottom panel, a cutaway portion of the inner wall of said opposed hollow side wall adjacent its top lfold line forming a lip-like extension inwardly from the top wall of said opposed hollow side wall adapted to engage the free end of said double thickness cover panel and hold it down when the carton is in erected and closed condition, extensions from the opposite ends of each outer wall of the opposed hollow side walls hingedly connected thereto through common fold lines, said extensions being equal in length to one-half the width of the rst bottom panel and having portions extending at right angles to the direction of extension from the said outer walls of the opposed hollow side walls, which portions foldv inwardly and adhesively adhere to the inner sides of said extensions, thus forming a double thickness, and said ex-k tensions being adapted to fold inwardly about the fold line connecting them to the outer walls of the hollow side walls, meeting at the center of the bottom panel to form a double thickness inner end wall, and extensions from thev opposite ends Aof the first bottom panel each comprising a top half and a bottom half, the latter being hingedly connected to the said bottom panel through a common fold line and the lformer being folded inwardly and adhesively adhered tothe inner side of the bottom half of said extension so as to form a double thickness, said end extension being folded in erected position against the inner end walls, thus forming with the latter end walls of 4-ply thickness.

2. The carton of claim 1 in which the outer end walls are slightly higher than the inner end walls, thus providing a step to support the ends of the cover when the latter is in closed position.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,081,068 Vance Dec. 9, 1913 2,196,502 Kells Apr. 9, 1940 2,326,281 Becker Aug. 10, 1943 2,447,243 Freel et a1. Aug. 17, 1948 2,797,854 Myers et al. July 2, 1957 

